silence of the Apostle is very expressive; and is a token of that true humility which ever accompanies a manifestation of the love of God. For what uninspired writer, pretending that he had been caught up unto the third heaven, would have refrained from telling us what he saw there? But it was to him, "who saw the Apocalypse," that the clearest discovery was made of the celestial state. While he was " in the isle which " is called Patmos, (being banished thither by "the Emperor of Rome) for the word of God "and for the testimony of Jesus Christ;" he had a vision of the glory of heaven; and he was commanded to reveal the particulars to the world. "What thou seest, write in a " book."* The general purpose of this book appears to have been, to exhibit some remarkable events in the history of the Christian Church in the "language of symbol; to be a STANDING PROPHECY during its successive periods; and which should begin to be best understood, when, by the lapse of time, new evidence might be most required. But one particular object of this book was intended for every age, and is highly important to us at this time. It was to establish the great truth, before recognized by Prophets, * Rev. i. 11. Evangelists, and Apostles, namely, that Christ is God, very God, coequal with the Father; and that one of the chief employments in heaven is "THE WORSHIP OF THE LAMB." Before the code of scripture was completed, the Apocalypse was given; to be a great confirmation of the doctrine collected from the Gospels and Epistles, of the eternal ATONEMENT, by "the blood of the Lamb." Wherefore St. John begins his book with ascribing glory and dominion for ever and ever, unto "HIM that loved us, and washed us from our "sins in his own blood." Had not this final portion of scripture been given, the body of revelation would have been imperfect. This is the book of which it is said, emphatically, "If any man shall take away from the words "of this book, God shall take away his part "out of the book of life."* And it shall be the object of the present discourse to lead your thoughts to this great subject, and to fix your contemplation on "the lamb that was "slain." For it is evident, that his name and sacrifice are kept much out of view, or greatly obscured at this day; and that many "take 66 away from the words" that assert his glory. It may be proper to premise, that the images * Of the xxii chapters in Revelations, eleven mention the Lamb; his glory or worship. which are employed in scripture to express the pleasures of the heavenly state, are, necessarily, sensible images. They are sometimes derived from things pleasant to the taste; and sometimes from the gladness of heart which reigns at a feast, or on a festal occasion; as when our Lord saith, on his giving the cup to his disciples at the last supper; "I will not drink " henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that "day when I drink it new, wITH YOU, in my "Father's kingdom."*" I appoint unto you a "kingdom, that ye may eat and drink at my "table in my kingdom." t-"For they shall "come from the East, and from the West, and "from the North, and from the South, and "shall sit down in the kingdom of God." + It is also said, "Blessed is he that shall eat "bread in the kingdom of God." § But the most beautiful image to denote the felicity of the celestial state, is derived from sounds pleasing to the ear. The concord of sweet sounds, being a pleasure more refined and intellectual than that of taste, is, in our apprehension, a more appropriate emblem of the enjoyments of Paradise. This figure is frequently used by St. John: and from him, our poet Milton has taken, some of, his images *Matt. xxvi. 29. + Luke xxii. 29. of the joy of heaven; as in the following pas sage; "The multitude of angels, with a shout "Loud as from numbers without number, sweet In directing your thoughts to the scene of the heavenly Jubilee, we shall first contemplate the assembly and then the employment.— • The ASSEMBLY is described in the following sublime and beautiful passage. "For ye are now come unto Mount Zion, "and unto the city of the LIVING GOD; the "heavenly Jerusalem; and to an innumerable "company of ANGELS; to the general Assem"bly and church of the first born, which are "written in heaven; and to God the judge "of all, and to the spirits of JUST MEN made perfect: And to JESUS the Mediator of the 66 new covenant ; and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of "Abel." t When we consider, that this passage contains not only grandeur of diction, but sublime truth, and that it is not merely sustained by metaphor and images, but by a surpassing *Parad. Lost, Book 2. + Heb. xii. 22. reality; it must appear to us to stand unrival led amongst the compositions of men. The Evangelist John, while in the isle of Patmos, had some visions of the EMPLOYMENT and blessedness of heaven. "I beheld, saith he, and lo, a great multi"tude which no man could number, of all «nations and kindreds and people and 66 tongues, stood before the throne, and before "the LAMB, clothed with white robes, and "palms in their hands; and cried, with a "loud voice, saying, salvation to our God, "which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the “Lamb. * And I heard the voice of harpers "harping with their harps; and they sung, 1 J as it were, a NEW SONG before the throne?' + Thus we see, that there will be a JUBILEE in heaven. And what is the chief object of gratulation? It is "the marriage suppers of the "Lambas described by St. John in the foll lowing words: 1. And I beheld, as it were, the voice of a "great multitude, and, as the voice of many 66 waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder. "ings, saying, Allelujah, for the Lord God " omnipotent reigneth. Let us be GLAD and "REJOICE, for the marriage of the Lamb is * Rev. vii. 19. + Rev. xiv. 2. |